Evaluating Participatory Photo Mapping for Improved Community Health Promotion

Rationale: For the past three years UW researchers, clinicians and community partners have engaged in multiple projects using a novel method called Participatory Photo Mapping. This method combines photography, maps (geographic information system technology) and narratives. Each project is unique, but the overarching goal is to generate outcomes that promote community health and well being of the target population. Using PPM as an assessment tool will optimize translation of data for effective, site-specific health promotion. Research aims: This presentation will focus on the development and implementation of this participatory research by assessing the effectiveness of the PPM method.

Aim 1: Evaluate the effectiveness of the PPM process for increasing the efficacy of participants; Aim 2: Evaluate the extent to which the data generated through PPM is effective in producing the intended outcomes as identified by community partners; Aim 3: Determine the extent to which information generated through the PPM process informs and guides future work as identified by the needs/setting of community partners. Advances understanding: This presentation will demonstrate how this research method is used to advance our understanding of community-based issues and how to optimize engagement with community organizations in meaningful partnerships than promote health. Researchers developed and implemented a questionnaire to assess the effectiveness of PPM. We measured four different components of the PPM method, including: 1) process, 2) data, 3) outcomes and 4) translation. Successful measures will increase the reliability of PPM for community health promotion.